Erie Canal, Hudson to NY costs

[WightSpirit14]

Hi all, just wondering what the costs are involved in this sort of passage. Other than overnight dock fees at welcoming marinas.... apologies if this is not the proper area to post, new to this board. PS love it ! My thoughts are to take our boat down to the Caribbean to live aboard.
Thanks for any help.
M

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by WightSpirit14

Hi all, just wondering what the costs are involved in this sort of passage. Other than overnight dock fees at welcoming marinas.... apologies if this is not the proper area to post, new to this board. PS love it ! My thoughts are to take our boat down to the Caribbean to live aboard.
Thanks for any help.
M

Depends on the size

Tolls, Passes and Permits - New York State Canals

10 day pass for a 40 footer = $50
You won't need marinas, villages and locks have walls to tie up to. At little or no cost.

[TDC]

Did it 10 years ago so no information on the cost. Just wanted to say it was an enjoyable trip. The towns on the canal are real towns and have amenities within walking distance. Fun to pass NYC on the water. I'm sure you've looked up the canal, just be aware the bridge clearance is quite low.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, WightSpirit14.

[twistedtree]

If you have a sail boat don't forget the cost to step and un-step the mast at each end of the trip.

Where are you coming from? There are a number of possible routes.

[WightSpirit14]

Hey, Thanks. I guess having some prefab mast racks for her would be called for, as to where to put them, and run the boat without getting in the way, something I've not though about either. I'd be coming from Kingsville, probably over to vermillion, thence ????? Cleveland...... I've only been as far as Vermillion before.

[twistedtree]

I'm not even sure which country we are talking about (US or Canada), let along which state.

[Dave Lochner]

If you are planning a trip down the canal, spend $20 on the official guide book. Well worth the money.

Coming from Lake Erie you have 2 choices, enter the Canal at Tonowanda, just north of Buffalo or take the Welland Canal to Lake Ontario and enter the Canal in Oswego, NY.

Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. It costs about $200 to transit the canal. But you can cover the distance from the Welland to Oswego much quicker on Lake Ontario than in the canal.

This spring we're moving a boat from Buffalo to Oswego along the canal.

[twistedtree]

It's longer, but you could also cross Ontario and head out the St Lawrence past Montreal, then come down through Lake Champlain. Much depends on whether you want to just get where you are heading, or explore along the way.

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by twistedtree

It's longer, but you could also cross Ontario and head out the St Lawrence past Montreal, then come down through Lake Champlain. Much depends on whether you want to just get where you are heading, or explore along the way.

Or just keep going out the St Lawrence to the Atlantic. Turn right at Newfoundland and head south.

[rgscpat]

What steps should folks take to protect their unstepped masts in the canals and locks?

[ElGatoGordo]

Originally Posted by Dave Lochner

It costs about $200 to transit the canal.

Looking myself...where does that number come from Dave? Thanks

[Dave Lochner]

Sorry, wasn't clear on the post. There is a $200 fee to transit the Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. $25 x 8 locks. The fee schedule is here: Seaway System - Recreational Boating - Pleasure Craft Tolls

The tolls for the NY State Canal are based on boat size and time. They are here: Tolls, Passes and Permits - New York State Canals

Dave

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by rgscpat

What steps should folks take to protect their unstepped masts in the canals and locks?

There is a lot of creative engineering on mast supports. The engineering needs to account for these conditions.

Inside the locks, going down the ride is pretty calm. Going up, the lock can get turbulent, deeper locks can get turbulent due to the large volume of water that enters. Large fenders and work gloves are essential. The lock walls get pretty slimy.

Another area that can get dicey is Oneida Lake, just east of Syracuse. It is ~20 miles laying west to east and if the wind is blowing it can get pretty choppy.

By far the biggest problem is large powerboat wakes in narrow canals. It is no fun and down right dangerous when these knuckleheads come through a narrow canal throwing 4-5 foot wakes.

So, to protect your mast, it needs to be well secured so it doesn't rock off the boat when hit by wakes, waves, or turbulence in the lock. Although the lock is the least of the problems.

Most boats that I've seen use some kind of cradle on the pulpit and a taller upright support on the stern to get the mast high enough to not interfere with steering or moving about in the cockpit.

Dave

[valhalla360]

With a start at the west end of Lake Erie, the logical route would be to Tonawanda and into the Erie Canal.

The one catch is if you can get your air draft below 15' as bridges on the west end of the canal are quite low.

Your costs will be:
- unstepping and stepping the mast.
- Canal Fee
- Fuel
- There are some pay marinas but it's really not neccessary. Not only are there free places to stop, a large percentage include free electric and water.

I've yet to see a good solution for the mast overhanging in the locks. If you smack it good you can do damage but pay attention and it shouldn't be a problem. Hard to say how to secure it without knowing more about the vessel.

Alternate routes:
- If you aren't in a rush, you could go up Lake Huron and take the Trent-Severn canal from Georgian Bay and then hop across Lake Ontario and enter the Erie Canal from Oswego.
- If you are in a rush or can't get under 15', take the Weland canal to Ontario and then across to Oswego (I think it's 20-21' you need from there)
- It's out of the way but you can take the Weland and down the St. Lawrence to the Champlain Canal.
- It's massively out of the way but you can take the Welland, down the St. Larence to the Ocean and around. (not saying it wouldn't be a cool trip but it's an order of magnitude longer)